[Wraith Attack at Windtide]

J'red was just finishing eating, when the call echoed through the warren,
and in his own mind, as Firefly relayed the urgent call to fly.  Wraiths!
The patrol dragons had returned with news of wraiths attacking a small
village just to the north.

J'red tried to picture the town, it was on the outskirts of his father's
holdings, but a self-sufficient village, with its own mayor, and only
indirectly answering to the lord's authority.
But he'd been to the village a few times during some of his "wilder"
adventures, though Windtide was anything but wild.

Firefly met him on the green, and they loaded up with coal.  Katla was busy
directing the wings to form up.  Even though the wings were well trained,
they were missing T'jellan,  D'ni, Cali, and Derry's experienced guidance,
and things were a bit more chaotic than usual.  Katla was engaged in a
heated conversation with Shawnee, worried about her friend's ability to fly,
that she did not notice that J'red had not been paired with anyone.

They winked out over the warren and blinked into the middle of incredible
devastation!  J'red could see homes burning, bodies all about, and the signs
of wraith scaldings everywhere!  What was left of Windtide did not even
correspond to his memories of that thriving little village.

<Wraiths straight ahead!>  Firefly warned as he dove to the left to avoid
being singed, flames erupting from his throat, as he spread open his mouth.
Ash fell below them.

Banking and turning, J'red directed Firefly to flame over what remained of
the town.  He could still see people running towards the stone wraith-proof
shelters -- but many would  not make it unless the dragons could give them
some breathing room!

<*FASTER*> J'red's mind screamed as he saw the people being attacked.

Flames erupted once again from Firefly, as he dove towards the townsfolk.
<*careful, friend! Don't get the people!*> J'red warned, knowing that
Firefly already knew his job.  Their thoughts merged as they turned
together, flaming, directing, spotting wraiths, flaming again.

<The Queen is in trouble!>  Firefly suddenly changed course to go protect
Wintermoon!

<*A Queen?!?!  Flying combat!  Gods!*> was J'red's shocked response.

<We must protect them!  We must!>

They were so intent on what was before them, they were unaware of the danger
that was fast approaching above them!

Suddenly, J'red's eye caught the grey shape, descending on them... Where was
his partner who should be watching his back?  Gods was he a fool! Derry was
in the med center recovering from the Hellspawn!  He had no partner!!!

<*Firefly!  We need help!!*>  They dove sharply, banking to the right, the
wraith slid past, leaving a cold, burning trail behind, along J'red's left
leg, and Firefly's left side.

<..EEEEEEE..> "AHHHH!"  The pain seared through them both, and J'red felt as
if the world were being swallowed up by grey -- a grey in his mind, that
seemed to blot out the surroundings.  The world was spinning.  Thankfully
the leather straps were keeping him on his dragon...

Firefly screamed in pain, screamed in fear, his wing, his left wing...
pain!...  The other dragons called to him, urged him to consciousness,
<<Shorten your right wing!>> they encouraged... yes, he was no longer
tumbling, but there was not much time before the ground rose up to meet him.

Stunned and amazed that they were both still alive, they landed on what was
left of a little house.  Gasping, J'red managed to undo his harness and
slide to the ground.  He leaned heavily against Firefly's side...Firefly
panted out little bursts of flame, igniting the remainder of the small house
they'd landed on.

<*We're alive!  We're okay!*> J'red laughed almost hysterically.

<Yes, my rider.  I am sorry...>

<*No!  you were so brave!  you were magnificent!  you saved my life!> J'red
hugged his dragon, crying.

<No, it was the others, they told me what to do. I would have killed you!>
Firefly's remorse was palpable. <We will go to the warren, that is what
Satinka's rider wants us to do.>

They pulled themselves out of the rubble onto the street.  The sight that
greeted them was more awful close-up than it had been from the air.  There
were bodies scattered around them, lying where they had fallen, half eaten
or partially eaten away by the wraiths which had killed them.

Near at hand, J'red noted a young man, probably close to his own age -- no a
little younger -- his left side also showed signs of wraith burns,
especially the left side of his face, but his hands had managed to close
around the neck of a lute....

<*He's still alive!*> J'red suddenly realized, as he heard a whisper of a
voice... a song! <*By the gods! He's singing?*>  J'red hobbled over to the
lad, Firefly following closely behind, both in shocked amazement.  The pain
seared through J'red's wounded leg -- but he ignored it.  Fighting down
nausea, J'red managed to hoist the boy onto the back of Firefly, who
obligingly lowered himself onto his belly.

<*Friend!  Tell Satinka that we have a victim, and we are returning to
Whiteriver!*> J'red directed Firefly, as he lashed the boy to the saddle,
climbing on behind.

<Satinka says 'good', and says her rider wants us out of here at once!>
Firefly conveyed.

In a moment they had launched themselves from the ground, with Firefly
feeling the pain of his damaged wing, yet managing to compensate.  In a
moment they were gone from the field of battle, and safe in the bowl of the
warren, circling and landing in front of the med center.

****
NRPG:  A short one to finish up the "day".  David, consider Truan "saved"
[g] and welcome to Whiteriver!

{{hugs}}
-Arlene
aka Merissa junior queenrider of Whiteriver rider of Chrysthal.
J'red rider of Firefly.